Help - double glazing, how do we get a good deal?!

drowningnotwaving_2

We are planning to get our whole house double glazed at some point in the next six months money permitting.

We have already lived in (and done up) three houses in the last nine years but we have never had to stray into the terrifying world that is - The Double Glazing Salesman!! :eek::eek:

We are, understandably, very nervous about being ripped off and ending up with a shoddy job - so please can you wonderful MSE guys help?

Are there any companies we should definitely avoid? Any companies you would highly recommend? Should we go local or national? How can we stop them from sitting in our house until we sign - or is this a myth?!!

Thanks for any help you can offer.

DNW

eco-friendly_2

How can we stop them from sitting in our house until we sign - or is this a myth?!!

Some turn up with sleeping bags .:eek:


Use local companies to supply, most will put you in touch with installers.

david29dpo

I have just done the same! Just had 6 quotes, 3 from nationals, 3 from locals. The nationals where a nightmare, should have guessed when the first thing they said was will both householders be present! i said yes but on the day my partner wasnt. 2 refused to quote and 1 was double the local company after insisting i sign there and then. The locals where fine and got the lot for £2500, nothing to pay upfront.

adandem

We had new windows last year and I certainly saw a huge difference in the quality of windows and workmanship when we looked around. There have been cases of people being shown very good quality sample windows and then had completely different ones fitted.

Take into account the type of glass/locks etc when choosing and also how good the co. is when things go wrong.We only had quotes from locals and didn't go for the cheapest, but we got the best we could afford.

Scarlet_Fever

yes - but can anyone recommend and good companies? my house has an old 'shop front' (used to be the village local stores before conversion 25 years ago) and has to stay looking like a shop - so we have lovely large windows, but want to get double glazed before winter..... anglian quoted £3,700 (before discounts....) why can they just give you a price?

oldandhappy

We have been very pleased with our Anglian Windows which we have had in 2 properties....the latter where already fitted here about 10 years ago and looking good still..which they should at the age...My daughter in the Kent area has just decided to have DG and chose a local company that makes there own...her neighbour had used them over a year ago and is very pleased with the result which was not straightforward windows but lots of leaded old style design. If you happen to be in Kent I can easily ask the company name. Mrs Happy

drowningnotwaving_2

Thanks guys, the message I'm getting loud and clear is to go local so I'm compiling a list of local suppliers now!

Mrs Happy, thanks for the offer but we're in Berkshire.

red40

Just be bold, I would definately go for a local company.

Invite them around tell them what YOU want and ask for a quote on that, please.

I had mine done last year, knew exactly what I wanted and how I wanted the openers and style, told them I wasn't open to negotiation and they all submitted quotes and very reasonable they were too.

DenBo_4

See if you can someone who can recommend a local installer (that they have used). I am looking to have new double glazing, I found one man in the local paper, he came round, measured up, took £150 deposit from me and disappeared off the face of the earth, never did get my money back................

I've had several national companies quote me, SafestyleUK came out, really arrogant salesman, he quoted me DOUBLE what everyone else had (and some), then said off course they do BOGOF, but even with 50% off they were still about £1.5k more than the rest! And the salesman never went to charm school, once he realised I wasn't interested he was very unfriendly and dismissive. Avoid like the plague :eek:

And no, I still haven't got double glazing:o

david29dpo

I had BOGOF round, guess what i said to him!

ormus

used a local company here in stockport. very nice friendly fitting team and really good prices.
had 2 houses done now and no complaints.
the nationals were a joke! keep well away from them. beware.

my neighbour did the best deal around. he bought his windows from wickes and got the local fireman to fit them for 100 quid per day labour.
took him a few days.